Research shows that the United States spends $1 billion a year disposing of food waste.

Just walk down any alley behind Chicago restaurants, bars, grocery stores and bakeries, and you can see for yourself.

ChicagoStorytelling’s Nico Hagopian, Sachi Yoshitsugu and Alexis Pelayo did just that in reporting on food waste and “dumpster diving” — also known as freegans — who dine on what others toss into a dumpster.